Thursday 25 October 2012

NK Maribor v Tottenham Hotspur - Preview


Gareth Bale and Emmanuel Adebayor have not travelled with Tottenham for the Europa League tie with NK Maribor.

Bale remained at home after his partner gave birth at the weekend, while Adebayor misses out with a back complaint.

Hugo Lloris will start in goal, while Mousa Dembele (hip) and Scott Parker (Achilles) are also missing.

Defenders Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Younes Kaboul (both knee) complete the injury list for the trip to Slovenia.

Following draws with Lazio and Panathinaikos, Spurs are third in Group J going into the double-header with Maribor.

"I think these two games with Maribor is going to be the decisive point of the group phase," said boss Andre Villas-Boas.

"A point will not be a bad result as it will keep us tight with Maribor. Lazio can escape if they beat Panathinaikos.

"But our two games with Maribor will be decisive. After those we will see where we stand, before we have a home game with Panathinaikos and a difficult trip to Lazio."

Maribor will be without defender Nejc Potokar and midfielder Rajko Rep through injury, while defender Jovan Vidovic is ineligible.

Coach Darko Milanic knows his side start as underdogs but believes they can achieve a surprise win.

His side are second in the table with three points, having beaten Panathinaikos 3-0 at home in their first group match.

"Ahead of us is an important and difficult ordeal. We will have to be great if we want to achieve a positive result," said Milanic.

"With the great support from the stands we are capable of this."

Provisional squad: Lloris, Cudicini, Naughton, Walker, Caulker, Gallas, Dawson, Vertonghen, Smith, Livermore, Parrett, Huddlestone, Sandro, Sigurdsson, Lennon, Townsend, Falque, Dempsey, Defoe.



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